A mother's unwavering determination to seek justice for her daughters has led to a new campaign, one that promises to be her and her ex-husband's final legal battle. Jenni Hicks, a woman who has endured unimaginable grief, is fighting to correct official court records that inaccurately state her daughters, Victoria and Sarah, were unconscious within seconds and died swiftly during the Hillsborough disaster. This tragic event, which occurred on April 15, 1989, claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans, including Jenni's beloved daughters.
But here's where it gets controversial... subsequent investigations, including a second set of inquests in 2016, revealed a stark contrast to the initial court records. Overwhelming evidence suggests that many victims, including Victoria and Sarah, were conscious for at least half an hour after the terrace crush. This revelation challenges the notion of a swift and sudden death, painting a different picture of prolonged suffering.
The fight to correct these records has been a long and arduous journey. Jenni and Trevor Hicks, with the support of legal counsel Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, are now urging the justice system, courts, and politicians to explore mechanisms that can rectify these inaccuracies. The current roadblock lies with South Yorkshire Police, who have refused to consent to a fresh hearing where an accurate statement could be made in open court.
Chief Constable Lauren Poultney, when approached for comment, stated that under her leadership, the force would take steps to support the families in their pursuit of justice. However, Jenni and Trevor feel that this support has not materialized, with Poultney declining to attend a parliamentary event hosted by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, where the issue was to be discussed.
And this is the part most people miss... the records in question stem from a civil case in the early 1990s, where families of the victims sued South Yorkshire Police for the pain and suffering endured by their loved ones. Victoria and Sarah, aged 15 and 19 respectively, became test cases, and the ruling went against the Hicks family, leaving them with significant legal costs.
The case was marred by the so-called '30-second rule', a false presumption adopted by the court, stating that every person killed in the disaster was unconscious within 30 seconds. Additionally, police lawyers claimed that all victims had died before 15:15 GMT, a claim later proven to be false.
Medical evidence presented during the new inquests shed light on the likely experience of victims who died from asphyxia at Hillsborough. It suggested that they endured pressure that waxed and waned, resulting in physical injuries and fluctuating levels of consciousness over an extended period.
On Monday, Jenni and Trevor will address a parliamentary event in Westminster, bringing together MPs, peers, and legal experts to examine this issue. They aim to highlight the importance of the legal system's ability to correct itself when later evidence proves earlier assumptions to be false.
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC emphasizes that this case has implications beyond Hillsborough, questioning whether the legal system has the courage and mechanisms to rectify its mistakes.
Jenni and Trevor see this as their last legal battle, a final attempt to set the record straight for their daughters and for the other families who have faced similar injustices. They believe that the formal legal record must reflect the truth, especially when it comes to the prolonged pain and suffering experienced by Sarah and Victoria during that agonizing hour.
Chief Constable Poultney acknowledges the force's 'serious errors and mistakes' and the resulting 'tremendous regret'. She expresses her wish for Mr and Mrs Hicks at the parliamentary event, but her absence from the event and her force's refusal to consent to a fresh hearing leave a sense of unresolved distress.
This story is a powerful reminder of the resilience and determination of families seeking justice, and it raises important questions about the legal system's ability to correct its own inaccuracies. It invites us to consider the impact of such errors on the lives of those affected and the importance of transparency and accountability in the pursuit of truth and justice.
